B.C. Health Minister predicts record drug overdose deaths this year
VICTORIA — British Columbia’s health minister says he’s hopeful the rate of drug overdose deaths will start dropping this month as a result of action taken by the province to curb a disturbing spike in opioid-related fatalities.
So far, last month’s declaration of a public-health emergency doesn’t appear to have slowed the number of overdose deaths, said Terry Lake, who noted fentanyl appears to be playing an increasingly central role.
“The numbers are continuing to be extremely high,” Lake said. “We’re on track for a record year.”
Updated numbers released Thursday by the BC Coroners Service showed the deadly opioid was linked to nearly half of more than 250 overdose deaths tallied for the first four months of this year.